Wine bag carrier

ABSTRACT

An insulated carrier for a wine-containing bag having a tap through which wine is dispensed from the wine-containing bag includes a substantially flat bottom, a first sidewall and a second sidewall. Furthermore, there is provided a space between the first and second sidewalls which provides an interior for the carrier within which a wine-containing bag can be positioned. In addition, the first sidewall defines an opening therein for accepting the tap of the wine-containing bag manipulated therethrough so that after positioning the wine-containing bag within the interior of the carrier, the tap can be manipulated through the opening of the first sidewall for accessing the tap. The carrier is also provided with a handle which facilitates the transport of the carrier between sites.

The benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/516,808, filed Apr.8, 2011 and entitled WINE BAG CARRIER is hereby claimed. The disclosureof the referenced provisional patent application is incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to containers for wine and relates,more particularly, to containers suited for transporting and dispensingwine.

In recent years, wine has been made available to consumers in boxes. Inother words, instead of (or in addition to) a bottle of wine, consumersmay purchase wine packaged in a box. Wine packaged in boxes are known inthe trade as “bag-in-box” wine or “box wine”. Commonly, each wine boxpackage includes an outer box constructed of relatively heavy paperstock or corrugated material and is in the shape of a rectangular prism.Positioned inside the outer box is a plastic bag within which the winecontents are sealed, and the plastic bag is provided with aspecially-designed tap, or spigot, which can be accessed through anopening provided in the outer box for purposes of dispensing the winethrough the outer box.

Limitations associated with such a wine box relates to the fact that abox takes up as much storage room when nearly-empty as it does when itis full, and such a limitation can be readily appreciated if storagecapacity of a refrigerator within which the box is to be stored islimited. Moreover and due in part to the difficulty of accessing theplastic bag as the contents of the box are dispensed, it is difficult topour out the entirety of the contents of the box. In particular, thelast few ounces of wine are difficult to empty from the box.

It would be desirable to provide a carrier for wine which improves uponthe box packaging for wine and from which the entirety of the bag ofwine can be conveniently dispensed. It would also be desirable toprovide such a carrier which is insulated and easier to carry than is acommon box of wine and which is capable of collapse by a user as thewine is emptied from the container to facilitate storage of the carrier.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved carrier for wine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a carrier fora wine-containing bag which is easy to carry and from which wine can beconveniently dispensed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such acarrier which circumvents the aforedescribed limitations associated withthe storage and emptying of wine boxes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a carrierwhich has relatively soft, flexible and insulated walls and seams alongwhich the walls are joined for imparting a degree of stiffness to thecarrier.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a carrierhaving a specially-formed opening through which the tap of awine-containing bag can be accepted for accessing the tap from outsidethe carrier.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such acarrier whose tap-accepting opening resists an inadvertent return of thetap back through the opening.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a carrierwhich is uncomplicated in structure, yet effective in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention resides in a carrier for a wine-containing bag having atap through which wine is dispensed from the wine-containing bag.

The carrier includes a substantially flat bottom having a pair ofparallel side edges extending therealong and a pair of parallel endedges which are oriented substantially normal to the parallel sideedges, In addition, the carrier includes a first sidewall having alinear edge which is joined to the bottom along one of the parallel sideedges thereof and further includes a second sidewall having a linearedge which is joined to the bottom along the other of the parallel sideedges thereof so that there is provided between the first and secondsidewalls a space which provides an interior for the carrier withinwhich a wine-containing bag can be positioned. Furthermore, the firstsidewall defines an opening therein for accepting the tap of thewine-containing bag manipulated therethrough so that upon positioningthe wine-containing bag within the interior of the carrier, the tap canbe manipulated through the opening of the first sidewall for accessingthe tap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a carrier within whichfeatures of the present invention are embodied and illustrating theembodiment when in a closed condition.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but illustrating theembodiment when shown in an opened condition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary wine-containing bag and abox within which the bag is packaged, shown exploded.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tap of the wine-containing bag ofFIG. 3, shown pulled from the FIG. 3 withdrawn condition to an extendedcondition.

FIG. 5 is a view of the tap of the wine-containing bag of FIG. 3 as seengenerally from the right in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carrier of FIG. 1, shown exploded.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the portion of the FIG. 1 carrier comprisingthe bottom thereof.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken about along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the FIG. 1 carriercomprising a sidewall thereof.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fragment of the FIG. 1 carrierdepicting the technique by which the fragment is stitched together toform a reinforced seam therealong.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the interior of the FIG. 1 carrier asseen through an open sidewall thereof and illustrating the reinforcementstrip joining two components of the carrier together.

FIG. 12 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a fragment of onesidewall of the FIG. 1 carrier within which the tap-accepting opening ofthe sidewall is defined.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to that of FIG. 12 but illustrating the tap ofthe wine-containing bag of FIGS. 3-5 protruding through thetap-accepting opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings in greater detail and considering firstFIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated an embodiment, generally indicated20, of a wine bag carrier within which features of the present inventionare embodied. The depicted carrier 20 includes an insulated bag 21having a bottom 22 and two insulated sidewalls 24, 26 which are joinedto the bottom 22 along side edges thereof. The insulated sidewalls 24,26 are positioned (in the FIG. 1 view) in a spaced-apart relationship,and the spacing defined between the sidewalls 24, 26 defines an interior25 (FIG. 2) within which a sealed wine-containing bag 144 (FIG. 3) canbe placed. In addition, an opening 90 (FIG. 1) is provided within thesidewall 24 for accepting a tap 148 of the wine-containing bag 144placed within the container interior 25, and it is through this opening90 that the contents of the wine contained within the bag 144 of winecan be dispensed.

The carrier interior 25 is well-suited for accepting an amount of winewhich is contained within a sealed bag 144 (FIG. 3) of the class whichnormally accompanies the packaging of wine in boxes. For example andwith reference to FIG. 3, there is illustrated an exemplary packaging,generally indicated 140, attending a conventional box of wine. Suchpackaging 140 includes an outer rectangular-shaped box 142 constructedof relatively heavy paper stock or corrugated cardboard and an innerplastic bag 144 within which an amount of wine is sealingly contained.The inner bag 144 has flexible plastic walls which are sealed along theouter edges thereof, and the bag 144 is shaped so that when filled withwine, the bag 144 substantially fills the interior of therectangular-shaped box 142. While the thickness of the plastic bag 144can vary, commonly-used bags 144 possess a thickness which is in therange of between about 1.5 and 3.0 mils.

One side of each bag 144 is also equipped with a tap 148 adjacent acorner thereof from which the wine is dispensed from the interior of thebag 144. It has been found that the style of taps vary between differentboxes of wine, but a popular style (depicted in the FIG. 3 packing 140)possesses an outlet port 150 (best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) havinglaterally-extending wings 151 protruding from opposite sides of the port150 and a push-button valve 152 which is slidably positioned within theport 150. When a user positions the index and middle fingers of one handbehind the laterally-extending wings 151 for stability, the thumb of thehand is free to depress the valve 152 to dispense the wine from the port150. Another style of tap resembles a faucet wherein a shaft can beturned in one (rotational) direction to open the tap and turned in theopposite (rotational) direction to close the tap.

In either style of tap, however, the tap is provided with abarrel-shaped tube 154 which protrudes outwardly of the bag 144 andterminates at the port 150. Furthermore and disposed along the length ofthe barrel-shaped tube 154 (so as to be positioned between the port 150and the bag 144) is a circular flange 156 which extends radiallyoutwardly of the tube 154. As will be apparent herein, it is this flange156 which can be forcibly accepted by the tap-accepting opening 90provided in a sidewall of the carrier 20 in a manner which resists thewithdrawal of the tap 148 from the tap-accepting opening 90 so that thetap 148 is stably retained within the tap-accepting opening 90 foraccess to the tap 148.

Upon removal of the wine-containing bag 144 from the outer box 142within which the bag 144 is packaged, the tap 148 is normally withdrawnwithin the interior of the bag 144 (as is depicted in FIG. 3), but thetap 148 can be pulled from its withdrawn condition to an extended (FIG.4) condition to facilitate the dispensing of the wine from the bag 144through the tap 148. In other words, by pulling the tap 144 outwardly(from its withdrawn condition) of the bag 144 to an extended condition,the tap 148 is more easily accessible to a user.

It will therefore be understood that the interior 25 of the carrier 20is intended to hold the wine-containing plastic bag 144 comprising acomponent of the packaging 140 of a conventional wine box. Therefore,before a wine-containing plastic bag 144 is positioned within the bag 21of the carrier 20 for use, the wine-containing bag 144 is first removedfrom the outer box 142 in which the bag 144 is contained. To this end,the top, indicated 162 in FIG. 3, of the outer box 142 is removed (e.g.severed) from the remainder thereof to enable the wine-containing bag144 to be lifted or, in the alternative, carefully slid from the outerbox 142 for subsequent placement of the bag 144 within the carrierinterior 25.

With reference to FIGS. 6-8, the bottom 22 of the carrier bag 21 issubstantially flat so as to provide upper and lower faces 30, 32,respectfully, and is substantially rectangular in shape. In accordancewith its rectangular shape, the bottom 22 includes two parallel sideedges 34, 36 which extend along the length thereof and two parallel endedges 38, 40 which are oriented substantially normal to the parallelside edges 34, 36. Within the depicted carrier 20 and as bestillustrated in FIG. 8, the bottom 22 is comprised of multiple layersincluding a bottom fabric layer 42 (e.g. a polyester material), arelatively stiff sheet 43 of board material (e.g. a hard plastic), anintermediate layer 46 of soft, insulation (e.g. polyethylene foam havinga thickness of about 0.125 inches) and a top fabric layer 48. Theselayers 42, 43, 46 and 48 are arranged in a layup arrangement and heldtogether with stitches which pass through the side and end edges of thetop and bottom layers 42, 48 of fabric and extend along stitch lines 47and 49. It will therefore be understood that although the bottom 22which appears in the views of FIGS. 6 and 7 as a single ply item, thebottom 22 is comprised instead of the multiple layers 42, 43, 46 and 48illustrated in FIG. 8. Collectively, the layup arrangement comprisingthe bottom 22 imparts a softness, an insulative quality and a rigidityto the bottom 22. The softness of the bottom 22 reduces any likelihoodof damage from the bottom 22 to a wine-containing bag 144 placedthereupon, the insulation of the bottom 22 resists a transfer of heatinto or out of the carrier interior 25, and the rigidity of the bottom22 prevents the bottom 22 from sagging from the edges thereof under theweight of a wine-containing bag 144 placed within the carrier interior25 and resting upon the bottom 22.

The two sidewalls 24, 26 of the carrier bag 21 are designated herein asa first sidewall 24 and a second sidewall 26, and as best shown in FIG.6, each sidewall 24 or 26 includes a lower linear edge 50 or 52 (havingtwo opposite ends) and an arcuate upper edge 54 or 56 (having twoopposite ends) which is arcuate in shape as a path is traced between itsopposite ends. More specifically, each upper edge 54 extends from oneend edge 38 of the bottom 22 to the other end edge 40 thereof. Eachsidewall 24 or 26 is securely joined to the bottom 22 along acorresponding side edge 34 or 36 thereof with the aid of a reinforcingstrip 58.

In connection with the foregoing and with reference to the exemplaryview of FIG. 10, the reinforcing strip 58 (which, for example, can becomprised of vinyl) can be folded around a portion of the lower linearedge 52 of the second sidewall 26 and a portion of the side edge 36 ofthe bottom 22 which are placed in an engaged, or overlapping,relationship with one another (on the interior-side of the carrier bag21) for purposes of sewing these items together along a stitch line 59(FIG. 10). Similarly, another reinforcing strip 58 can be folded arounda portion of the lower linear edge 50 of the first sidewall 24 and aportion of the side edge 34 of the bottom 22 which are placed in anengaged, or overlapping, relationship with one another (on the interiorside of the carrier bag 21) for purposes of securing these itemstogether along a stitch line 61 (FIG. 2).

With reference again to FIG. 6, the carrier 20 also includes a means,generally indicated 60, for spanning and covering the carrier interior25 provided between the two sidewalls 24 and 26. Within the depictedcarrier 20, the covering means 60 is in the form of an elongated uppermember 66 having two parallel end edges 68, 70 and two (arcuate) sideedges 72, 74 which extend from one end edge 38 of the bottom 22, acrossthe upper edges 54, 56 of the sidewalls 24, 26 to the other end edge 40of the bottom 22. Each end edge 68 or 70 of the upper member 66 issecurely joined (e.g. sewn) to a corresponding end edge 38 or 40 of thebottom 22 along a stitch line 76 or 78 (FIG. 11) which extendstherealong.

With reference again to FIG. 6, the side edge 74 of the upper member 66is securely joined (e.g. sewn) to the second sidewall 26 along the upperedge 56 thereof in a manner described herein, while there is interposedbetween the side edge 72 of the upper member 66 and the upper edge 54 ofthe first sidewall 24 a zipper 80 which joins the upper member 66 to thefirst sidewall 24. More specifically, each zipper tape which extendsalong the opposite side edges of the zipper 80 is sewn along acorresponding side edge 72 or upper edge 54 so that the zipper 80enables the first sidewall 24 to be releasably joined to the uppermember 66 to accommodate a pivotal movement of the first sidewall 24relative to the remainder of the carrier 20 about the side edge 34 ofthe bottom 22 between a closed condition, as illustrated in FIG. 1, atwhich the carrier interior 25 is closed and an opened condition, asillustrated in FIG. 2, at which the carrier interior 25 is opened.

It will be understood that while the carrier 20 is in its closedcondition, the carrier interior 25 and any wine-containing bag 144 whichmay be positioned within the interior 25 is completely enveloped by thebottom 22, sidewalls 24, 26 and upper member 66, and while the carrier20 is in its opened condition, a wine-containing bag 144 can be placedwithin the carrier interior 25 or removed therefrom. Furthermore, thezipper 80 of the depicted carrier 20 is a two-way zipper which can beopened from either end by way of either of two slides and pull tabs.However, a zipper suitable for use as the zipper 80 can employ a singleslide and pull tab.

As exemplified by the cross-sectional fragment of the sidewall 24depicted in FIG. 9, each of the sidewalls 24, 26 and upper member 66 iscomprised of multiple layers of material including, for example, anouter fabric layer 110, an intermediate layer 112 of soft insulation(e.g. polyethylene foam) and an inner fabric layer 114 arranged in alayup fashion. Collectively, the multiple layers of the sidewalls 24, 26and the multiple layers of the upper member 66 provide these componentswith a degree of softness for protecting a wine-containing bag 144placed within the interior 25, with an insulative quality to inhibit thetransfer of heat into or out of the carrier interior 25, and with adegree of flexibility so that if desired, the carrier 20 can be forciblycollapsed or folded upon itself to conserve space.

It is also a feature of the carrier 20 that the upper member 66 isjoined to the second sidewall 26 with a reinforcing strip 84 (FIG. 6) ofmaterial (e.g. vinyl) which extends along the entirety of the side edge56 of the upper member 66. As was the case with the reinforcing strip 58(FIG. 10) used in the securement of each side edge 34 or 36 of thebottom 22 to a corresponding lower edge 50 or 52 of the sidewalls 24 or26, the reinforcing strip 84 is folded about a portion of the upper edge56 of the second sidewall 26 and a portion of the side edge 74 of theupper member 66 before the strip 84 (and portions of the upper edge 56and side edge 74) are attached (i.e. sewn together) along a stitch line88 (FIG. 11).

With the reinforcing strip 84, the upper edge 56 and the side edge 74stitched together along the stitch line 88, the strip 84 helps torigidify the stitch line 88 therealong so that when the carrier bag 21is empty (i.e. contains no wine-containing bag 144) and placedbottom-side-down upon a horizontal surface, the reinforced stitch line88 helps to hold the second sidewall 26 in an upright orientation. Inother words, the reinforced stitch line 88 prevents the sidewalls 24 and26 of the carrier 20, when empty, from collapsing under its own weightwhen the carrier 20 is placed bottom-side-down upon a horizontalsurface, and the reinforced stitch line 88 is advantageous in thisrespect.

It is another feature of the carrier 20 that one of its sidewalls, i.e.the first sidewall 24, defines the opening 90 therein (which opening 90was introduced earlier) for accepting the tap 148 of a wine-containingbag 144 positioned within the carrier interior 25. More specifically andupon positioning the wine-containing bag 144 within the interior 25 ofthe carrier 20 so that the bag 144 rests upon the carrier bottom 22, thetap 148 can be manipulated through the opening 90 of the first sidewall24 from the interior 25 of the carrier 20 for purposes of accessing thetap 148 from outside the carrier 20. As will be apparent herein, thediameter of the opening 90 is slightly smaller than the diameter of theradially-extending flange 156 so that the flange 156 of the tap 148 mustbe forced through the opening 90 as the tap 148 is manipulated throughthe opening 90.

It is also a feature of the carrier 20 that the region of the firstsidewall 24 surrounding the tap-accepting opening 90 is rigidified tohelp hold the tap 148 in a stationary condition as the tap is repeatedlygrasped by a user for purposes of dispensing wine from the carrier 20.In this connection and with reference to FIGS. 6, 12 and 13, the carrier20 includes a pair of circular pieces 92, 94 (having a central opening93 or 95 defined therein) which are secured to opposite side faces ofthe first sidewall 24 so that the central openings 93, 95 are axiallyaligned with the opening 90. Each circular piece 92, 94 is constructedof a relatively stiff material, such as a hard plastic.

For securement of the pieces 92 and 94 to the sidewall 24, the pieces92, 94 are first placed against the opposite side faces of the sidewall24 so that the central openings 93, 95 of the pieces 92, 94 are axiallyaligned with the opening 90 and so that the region of the first sidewall24 disposed adjacent the opening 90 is sandwiched between the circularpieces 92, 94. The pieces 92, 94 are then securely joined (e.g. sewn) tothe sidewall 24 along the stitch line 96 (FIG. 1). By rigidifying theregion of the sidewall 24 which surrounds the opening 90 in theforegoing manner, the useful life of the opening 90 can be enhanced.

With reference again to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, the carrier 20 also includes ahandle 98 which facilitates the transport of the carrier 20 from onesite to another site. Within the depicted carrier 20, the handle 98includes a broad, elongated flexible strap 100 which is secured to theupper member 60 of the carrier 20 at opposite ends thereof. To this end,there is sewn to the upper member 66 at one end of the carrier 20 ashort piece 102 of fabric material having a loop-providing buckle 104secured thereto, and the strap 100 has one end 106 which is sewn to theupper member 66 at the end of the carrier 20 opposite the end to whichthe short piece 102 is secured. The other (i.e. non-secured) end of thestrap 100 is directed through the loop of the loop-providing buckle 104and anchored to a second buckle 108 which is slidably positioned alongthe length of the strap 100 which extends between the secured end 106 ofthe strap 100 and the loop-providing buckle 104.

The aforedescribed handle 98 comprised of the strap 100 and buckle 104enables the useful length of the handle 98 to be adjusted as the secondbuckle 108 is slidably moved along the strap 100 to an alternativeposition therealong. The strap 100 can be constructed of a fabriccomprised of a woven plastic material, but alternative materials can beused.

In order to position the wine-containing bag 144 within the interior 25of the carrier 20, the zipper 80 which joins the first sidewall 24 tothe upper member 66 along the upper edge 72 thereof is unzipped and thefirst sidewall 24 is pivoted to its FIG. 2 opened condition to access,or expose, the interior 25 of the carrier 20. The wine-containing bag144 (which has been removed from the outer box 142 of the packaging 140)is then placed within the carrier interior 25 so that when the firstsidewall 24 is subsequently returned toward its FIG. 1 closed condition,the tap 148 is disposed adjacent the opening 90. However, before thezipper 80 is zipped up, the tap 148 is grasped by one hand and forciblymanipulated through the opening 90 until the radial flange 156 isdisposed outside of the carrier 20, as is illustrated in FIG. 13. Thezipper 80 can then be zipped up so that the wine-containing bag 144 istotally enveloped by the componentry (i.e. the bottom 22, the sidewalls24, 26 and the upper member 66) of the carrier 20.

After the flange 156 has been forcibly manipulated through the opening90, the flange 156 will not readily pass back through the opening 90without being forced to do so because the diameter of the tap-acceptingopening 90 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the circular flange156. Therefore and as long as the tap 148 is desired to be accessible(for the purpose of dispensing wine therefrom) the flange 156 resists areturn of the tap 148 into the carrier interior 25 through the opening90 and, accordingly, the undersized opening 90 helps to maintain the tap148 in an extended condition.

Advantages provided by the carrier 20 include its insulative nature, thefact that the sidewalls 24, 26 and upper member 66 are permitted to becollapsed by a user as the contents of the wine-containing bag 144 aredispensed from the bag 144. Such a capability of collapse enables thecarrier 20, with its wine contents, to take up as little storagecapacity as is necessary if, for example, the carrier 20 is placedwithin a refrigerator between periods when wine is desired to bedispensed from the carrier 20. Another advantage provided by the carrier20 relates to the capability of carrying the carrier 20 by means of thehandle 98. Since conventional wine boxes (such as the box 142 of theFIG. 3 packaging 140) are not provided with handles, the carrier 20 ismore easily transported than is a conventional wine box.

It follows from the foregoing that a carrier 20 has been described for aflexible wine-containing bag 144 having a tap 148 through which the winecan be dispensed. The carrier 20 includes a plurality of soft,insulative and flexible walls (including the bottom 22, sidewalls 24, 26and upper member 66) for enveloping a wine-containing bag 144 placedwithin the interior 25 and wherein at least one of the walls (i.e. thesidewall 24) includes an opening 90 through which the tap 148 isaccessible. In addition, components (i.e. the upper member 66 and thesecond sidewall 26) of the carrier 20 are joined with a reinforcingstrip 84 along a stitch line 88 in a manner which rigidifies the stitchline 88, and the carrier 20 includes a handle 98 (e.g one of adjustablelength) which facilitates the transport of the carrier 20 between sites.

Exemplary dimensions of the carrier 20 are as follows: The overalllength of the carrier bag 21 (as measured lengthways along the exteriorthereof) is about 13.25 inches; the overall length of the carrierinterior 25 (as measured lengthways along the carrier interior) is about12.75 inches; the overall width of the carrier bag 21 (as measuredbetween the outside faces of the sidewalls 24 and 26) is about 4.375inches; the overall width of the carrier interior 25 (as measuredbetween the inside faces of the sidewalls 24 and 26) is about 3.875inches); the overall height of the carrier interior 25 (as measuredvertically along the inside face of one sidewall 24 or 26) is about 10.0inches; and the diameter of the opening 90 is about 1.625 inches. Theouter and inner layers of the bottom 22, sidewalls 24 and 26 and uppermember 66 can be constructed of a 600 denier 100% polyester fabric whichis very durable and stain resistant. However, alternative materials canbe used.

A carrier 20 which possesses the aforementioned exemplary dimensions hasbeen found capable of accepting a wine-containing bag 144 whose capacityis 3.0 liters and a wine-containing bag 144 whose capacity is 5.0liters. Furthermore, such a carrier 20 has been found capable of holdingtwo 3.0 liter wine-containing bags wherein a first wine-containing bag(of the two bags) is disposed so that its tap protrudes through thesidewall opening 90 while the other wine-containing bag is storedalongside the first bag. Moreover, the aforementioned opening 90 havinga diameter of about 1.625 inches is well-suited for forcibly accepting atap 148 having a circular flange 156 whose diameter measures about 1.5inches. Therefore, it is preferred that the diameter of the opening 90is about 0.125 inches less than the diameter of the circular flange of atap intended to be manipulated therethrough.

It will be understood that numerous modifications and substitutions canbe had to the aforedescribed embodiment 20 without departing from thespirit of the invention. Accordingly, the aforedescribed embodiment 20is intended for the purpose of illustration and not as limitation.

1. A carrier for a wine-containing bag having a tap through which wineis dispensed from the wine-containing bag, the carrier comprising: asubstantially flat bottom having a pair of parallel side edges extendingtherealong and a pair of parallel end edges which are orientedsubstantially normal to the parallel side edges; a first sidewall havinga linear edge which is joined to the bottom along one of the parallelside edges thereof; a second sidewall having a linear edge which isjoined to the bottom along the other of the parallel side edges thereofso that there is provided between the first and second sidewalls a spacewhich provides an interior for the carrier within which awine-containing bag can be positioned; and the first sidewall defines anopening therein for accepting the tap of the wine-containing bagmanipulated therethrough so that upon positioning the wine-containingbag within the interior of the carrier, the tap can be manipulatedthrough the opening of the first sidewall for accessing the tap.
 2. Thecarrier as defined in claim 1 further comprising a handle whichfacilitates the transport of the carrier between sites.
 3. The carrieras defined in claim 1 wherein each of the first and second sidewalls hasan upper edge which extends therealong, and the carrier furthercomprises: means for covering the carrier interior wherein the coveringmeans includes an elongated member having two opposite ends and isjoined at one of its ends to one of the parallel end edges of the bottomand is joined at the other of its ends to the other of the parallel endedges of the bottom, and wherein the elongated member further includes apair of side edges which extend between the two opposite ends thereofand are each joined to a corresponding side edge of the bottom so thatthe interior of the carrier is substantially enclosed by the bottom, thefirst and second sidewalls and the covering means.
 4. The carrier asdefined in claim 3 wherein at least a portion of one of the first andsecond sidewalls is releasably securable to the covering means forproviding access to the interior of the carrier for purposes of placinga wine-containing bag into the carrier interior or for removing awine-containing bag from the carrier interior.
 5. The carrier as definedin claim 4 wherein said at least a portion of one of the first andsecond sidewalls is joined to the covering means by way of a zipperwhich can be zipped between an opened conditions and a closed condition.6. The carrier as defined in claim 4 wherein the first and secondsidewalls and covering means are relatively soft and flexible, and atleast one of the sidewalls is joined to the covering means along a seamwhich provides sufficient rigidity to the carrier so that when thecarrier is placed bottom-side-down upon a horizontal surface, said atleast one of the sidewalls remains in an upright orientation.
 7. Thecarrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the tap-accepting opening definedin the first sidewall is bordered by a relatively rigid piece ofmaterial for rigidifying the region of the first sidewall disposedadjacent the tap-accepting opening.
 8. The carrier as defined in claim 1wherein the wine-containing bag further includes a bag portion withinwhich wine is contained, and the tap is sealingly joined to the bagportion and includes a port through which wine is dispensed from the bagportion and further includes a circular flange which extends radially ofthe tap and which is disposed between the port and the bag portion, andthe tap-accepting opening defined in the one sidewall is circular andhas a diameter, and the diameter of the tap-accepting opening isslightly smaller than the diameter of the circular flange of the tap sothat upon placing the wine-containing bag into the interior of thecarrier and forcibly manipulating the flange of the tap-acceptingopening through the opening, the flange resists a return of the tap backthrough the tap-accepting opening.
 9. The carrier as defined in claim 8wherein the diameter of the tap-accepting opening is about 0.125 inchessmaller than the diameter of the circular flange of the tap.
 10. Thecarrier as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the bottom, the firstsidewall, the second sidewall and the conveying means includes a layerof insulation for insulating the interior of the carrier.
 11. Thecarrier as defined in claim 3 further comprising a handle whichfacilitates the transport of the carrier between sites, and wherein thehandle includes an elongated strap which is joined to the covering meansso as to extend between one location disposed along the covering meanswhich is spaced from one end edge of the bottom and another locationdisposed along the covering means which is spaced from the other endedge of the bottom.
 12. The carrier as defined in claim 3 wherein thecovering means includes a soft, flexible strip of material having sideedges which extend along and are joined to the upper edges of the firstand second sidewalls and also includes end edges which extend along andare joined to the end edges of the bottom as aforesaid.
 13. A carrierfor a wine-containing bag having a tap through which wine is dispensedfrom the wine-containing bag, the carrier comprising: a bag including a)a substantially flat, rectangular-shaped bottom having a pair ofparallel side edges extending therealong and a pair of parallel endedges which are oriented substantially normal to the parallel sideedges; b) a first sidewall having a lower edge which extends therealongand which is joined to the bottom along one of the parallel side edgesthereof and further includes an upper edge; c) a second sidewall havinga lower edge which extends therealong and which is joined to the bottomalong the other of the parallel side edges thereof so that there isprovided a space between the first and second sidewalls which providesan interior for the carrier within which a wine-containing bag can bepositioned; and d) means joined to the upper edges of the first andsecond sidewalls for covering the interior of the carrier so that thecarrier interior is collectively enveloped by the covering means, thefirst and second sidewalls and the bottom; and the first sidewalldefines an opening therein for accepting the tap of the wine-containingbag manipulated therethrough so that upon positioning thewine-containing bag within the interior of the carrier, the tap can bemanipulated through the opening of the first sidewall for accessing thetap.
 14. The carrier as defined in claim 13 further comprising a handlewhich is attached to the bag of the carrier to facilitate the transportof the carrier between sites.
 15. The carrier as defined in claim 14wherein at least a portion of one of the first and second sidewalls isreleasably securable to the covering means for providing access to theinterior of the carrier for purposes of placing a wine-containing baginto the carrier interior or for removing a wine-containing bag from thecarrier interior.
 16. The carrier as defined in claim 15 wherein said atleast a portion of one of the first and second sidewalls is joined tothe covering means by way of a zipper which can be zipped between anopened condition to permit said one sidewall to be pivoted relative tothe bottom for accepting a wine-containing bag placed therein and aclosed condition at which the interior of the carrier is substantiallyenveloped by the bottom, first and second sidewalls, and the coveringmeans.
 17. The carrier as defined in claim 13 wherein the first andsecond sidewalls and covering means are relatively soft and flexible,and at least one of the sidewalls is joined to the covering means alonga seam which provides sufficient rigidity to the carrier so that whenthe carrier is placed bottom-side-down upon a horizontal surface, saidat least one of the sidewalls remains in an upright orientation.
 18. Thecarrier as defined in claim 13 wherein the tap-accepting opening definedin the first sidewall is bordered by a relatively rigid piece ofmaterial for rigidifying the region of the first sidewall disposedadjacent the tap-accepting opening.
 19. The carrier as defined in claim18 wherein the wine-containing bag includes a bag portion within whichwine is contained, and the tap is sealingly joined to the bag portionand includes a port through which wine is dispensed from the bag portionand further includes a circular flange which extends radially of the tapand which is disposed between the port and the bag portion, and thetap-accepting opening defined in the one sidewall is circular and has adiameter, and the diameter of the tap-accepting opening is slightlysmaller than the diameter of the circular flange of the tap so that uponplacing the wine-containing bag into the interior of the carrier andthen forcibly manipulating the flange of the tap through thetap-accepting opening, the flange resists a return of the tap backthrough the tap-accepting opening.
 20. The carrier as defined in claim13 further comprising a handle which facilitates the transport of thecarrier between sites.